ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE:

A twisted interpretation of the Dostoyevsky novel, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT blends physical theater, dance and design into an adventurous, immersive performance in the basement of The Soap Factory.

The creative direction of Noah Bremer, Tyler Olsen and Joanna Harmon leads a co-production between Live Action Set, Dangerous Productions, and The Soap Factory that brings together a team of over 40 artists, including some of the most innovative performers and designers in the Twin Cities. With two-dozen storylines unfolding simultaneously, the production is unique to every person who sees it.

You run into a room where you hear a woman screaming for help. As you enter, her murderer runs out the door. And now, you have a choice- stay with the victim, or chase after the person who killed her?

This is just one of the many situations you may find yourself in CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. follow a character’s plea, explore the nooks and crannies of the environment, even discover secrets seen only by you. Enter the subterranean city built beneath The Soap Factory, and prepare yourself for a mind-bending theatrical experience.

As one of the most successful shows in the 2014 Minnesota Fringe Festival, Live Action Set's CRIME AND PUNISHMENT brings an expertly crafted performance to The Soap Factory's basement. Hailed as "a triumph ... of tone and design", "elegantly constructed" and "impossibly rich" by the Tangential and a promise to "provoke, frighten, amuse, and evoke at once" by Minnesota Monthly, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT is an experience not to be missed.

reviews, write-ups, and interviews:

"Some characters address me directly. Others merely look at me as they pass by. It’s a strange dynamic, feeling both isolated from this world of activity and also free to do as I please. It feels like I’m looking through aquarium glass, but I can’t tell if I’m the human or the fish."Minnesota Connected, April 13th, 2015

"The interactive and immersive experience that is Crime and Punishment pushes the boundaries of what theater can be...You're not just watching the show, you're in it, you're part of it. This experience may not be for everyone, and you do have to push yourself outside of the theater seat comfort zone, but if you're willing to don a mask and stumble around in the dark for an hour with an open mind, you will be rewarded with a totally unique and all-comsuming experience."Cherry and Spoon, April 12th, 2015

"You can follow any of them singularly, or bounce between characters, but the strength of Crime and Punishment is in the moments of pure surprise – an achingly sweet and powerfully lithe dance between a Cossack and his lover, the moment of holding all tension before an axe is brought down, being pulled aside by a character and told of a dream where you were together. "Cake in 15, April 12, 2015

"...this startlingly inventive and intimate immersion into the bowels of Russian society becomes less of a play and more of a happening; gleefully thwarting your expectations for a singularly complete narrative echoing the way Dostoyevsky’s characters are thwarted by the government, by society, by each other, and by themselves. And thanks to a gorgeous production rendered by a fearlessly committed cast, this becomes a production you can’t miss."L'Etoile, April 9th, 2015

" Crime and Punishment at the Soap Factory is not your "sit in your seat" kind of performance. You might run into a room where you hear a woman screaming for help, as her murderer runs out. Do you stay with the victim, or chase after the criminal?"Fox- TV spot, April 7th, 2015

Donate to the project:

Please DONATE to this project. This scale of work is extremely costly, but the rewards are profound. Your support allows us to continue crafting intimate adventures where the audience plays a central role to the experience.